Israeli warplanes predawn Wednesday flew in a low-altitude over the palace of Syrian President Bashar Assad in the nortern port city of Latakia, Israeli officials said Wednesday evening. Israel's Channel 2 TV reported that the aircrafts caused sonic booms when passing over the palace.

Assad is believed to have been staying in the palace at the time of the flyover.

Anti-aircraft guns opened fire long after the aircrafts left Syrian airspace, Israeli sources said.

The Israeli army went on high alert along the northern border following the news, Channel 10 TV reported.

Senior Israeli government figures approved the move in order to signal to the Syrian President that Israel in not oblivious to his sponsorship of Hamas' Damascus-based leader Khaled Meshal, Haaretz reported. Military officials said Assad was targeted because of the "direct link" between Syria and Hamas.